SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A summer after he placed in two Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga, including a third-place finish in the Whitney, the Maryland-bred and -based Post Time is back to try again as part of a star-studded field entered in Saturday’s $1 million Whitney Stakes.
Post Time, a 5-year-old son of Frosted, is as consistent as they come, having won 11 of 18 starts and never finishing worse than third. He’s a seven-time stakes winner, his biggest victory coming in the Grade 2 Carter at Aqueduct in April 2024.
At Saratoga last year, Post Time finished second to National Treasure in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and third – losing second by a neck to Crupi – to Arthur’s Ride in the Whitney.
“He ran against good horses, he traveled up there, he showed up, we were all delighted,” trainer Brittany Russell said Wednesday from Maryland.
Post Time has two seconds and a third in three Grade 1 stakes tries, with his other runner-up finish coming in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Post Time has run three times so far this year, sandwiching wins in an allowance and the Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park around a third-place finish as the favorite behind Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Grade 3 Blame at Churchill Downs.
“Was it his best race? I don’t think so,” Russell said of the Blame. “Did we have him as ready as maybe he was last season when we threw him in against a tougher group? I don’t think so.
“I’m also not making excuses. He’s ready now and we’re giving him another swing.”
Post Time has worn blinkers in all three of his starts this year. Russell added the equipment in an attempt to help the quirky horse run straight in the lane.
“I had to do something [to correct] that he’s wanting to lay on horses,” Russell said. “If he’s running straight and he’s not good enough, okay. If he’s laying on horses and he’s messing around and there’s an equipment addition that can help him, I’d be foolish not to do it. I’m not saying it’s changed the world, it’s served its purpose at this stage.”
Post Time drew the outside post in what figures to be a nine-horse field in the Whitney – all indications are that Mindframe will scratch to await the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Given some gate issues Post Time has had, most notably at Churchill, Russell doesn’t mind the outside draw.
“I’m hoping with him drawing outside he can load up and get out of there. Less time for him to mess around,” Russell said.
Post Time is one of eight millionaires entered in the Whitney, an indication of how strong this year’s renewal came up.
“It’s a good division, right, there’s some really good horses,” Russell said. “A lot of things are going to have to go our way.
“We’re realistic. If he does his thing and shows up like he usually does – that means he shows up and gets a piece of it – and he’s third that’s okay. Anything can happen in these races.”
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